UK's Frost-Manner Of NI Protocol Implement'n Not In Line w/UK Intentions

Speaking to the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs select committee, UK Cabinet Office minister Lord Frost says that the 'manner of implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol is not in line with the UK's intentions'.

• Link to livestream: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/0f2762db-c00...
• Acknowledges that "we're not getting much progress" with the EU in reaching a compromise on how to implement the protocol.
• Says that "the problem we've had since the end of January is that there has been a very noticeable erosion of consent from one segment of the community in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol".
• "Our wish...is that we need to find agreed solutions that allows the protocol to operate in alignment with the Good Friday Agreement in all its elements...if we can't do that all options are on the table for what happens next..."
• The next major date comes at the end of June when the grace period on chilled meats being exported from GB to NI (thereby avoiding customs checks), which the UK has stated it would unilaterally extend. The EU has stated that it would 'act accordingly' in that situation.
• The hard-line stance from both sides and the rising unionist/loyalist anger at Westminster over the protocol could see a more severe breakdown in relations, with even the extreme prospect of the protocol being scrapped by the UK gov't in play. This could result in a breakdown of the entire Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the UK go to WTO trading rules with the EU.